The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-11-18
THANKSGIVING CHAT.

What are we going to have for Thanks
giving dinner?
We have made bill of fare which we
expect to enjoy: First, we will have toma-
to soup, turkey garnished with ''iittle pigs
in blankets" lobster patties, mashed pota-
toes, squash, turnips, purple cabbage salad,
celery, spiced currants, or currant jeny,
cranberry sauce, pickles, pumpkin pie,
banberries, cakes, ice cream, almonds and
raisins, coffee, with chocolate for the child
rem.
We shall not put more than four or five
spoonfuls of soup into each plate, just
enough to begin our dinner decently and
in order, but not by any means enough to
appease Thanksgiving appetite. Half
can Of tomatoes is sufficient for family
of six. The soup to be made after the
formula known to all cooks. The rest of
the tomatoes should be taken Immediately
out of the can, and it may have little salt
and cayenne added and be boiled and be
put through a colander and so make an
excellent sauce for the inorrow's beef
steak The turkey is to be stuffed with
fine dry bread crumbs, to which small
slice of salt pork and a large tart apple
are to be added after chopping them very
fine; season carefully with salt, pepper and
sage. For the garnish cut some very thin
slices of bacon, upon each lay an oyster
which has been wiped dry. then fold the
bacon over it and fasten it with little tooth
picks of wood; put two through each slice;
just ten minutes before the turkey is to go
to the table fry these ''little pigs" until
they are delicately brown. On the edge
of the platter place parsley or very fine
bleached celery tops, (these may be
fringed with needle if not fine enough to
look well), then put the turkey in position,
and around it lay the oysters. Deck the
turkeys breast with a spray of green. 1t
is not at all necessary that the oysters
shall be the largest and most expensive
kind, but the bacon must be in due pro-
portion; do not think that if the oyster is
small you will make up the deficiency by
supplying an extra amount ofbacon.
Lobster patties which are to be served
with the turkey, since our family dinner
will have but four courses, are made in
this way: Line patty pans with puff paste,
or simply ''short" pic crust, and by the
way, one secret of 1laky crust is in the mix
ing of the flour and lard; il well rubbed
together with the hands, rubbed as if you
like to rub, and regard it for the moment
as an absorbing occupation, the crust will
be light and faky without being too rich.
After lining the tins fill them with I'M
cooked rice, or with dry bread, put top
crust on, brush it over with the white of
an egg, lightly, and bake.
Mince the lobster very fine, add little
water, lemon juice, any meat sauce you
choose, and a little cayenne pepper
and salt; let this simmer gently for five
minutes, then after removing the top and
taking out the rice or bread, fill the shells
and send to the table hot.
Purple cabbage is chosen for salad be-
cause it is more spicy in flavor, and partly
for it's color For small head, beat three
eggs until very light, then add six table
of made mustard, also piece of butter the
size of walnut. Cook this dressing
gently until it begins to thicken, and then
remove from the fire, and when it is cold
pour it over the cabbage.
Be generous in making the pumpkin pie;
use cream, if you can in place of milk, and
do not follow the old plan of three eggs to
two pies unless you are obliged to do so;
no seasoning but ginger will go, for the
fine favor of good pumpkin is entirely
lost if other spices are used, and the color,
too. A pumpkin pie that is the color of
New Orleans molasses and a very little
sugar should be used to sweeten it, then
the pie should be baked in very even,
moderate oven, until over the top the en-
ticing film has become thin membrane,
which no child ever saw upon secluded
pantry shelf without temptation. The
rhyme quoted oft in my own childhood,
''black eyes pick pies must certainly
have had some connection with the ideal
pumpkin pie!
Banberries are most excellent substi-
tute for mince pies; stone and chop one
cupfll of raisins piece of citron the size
of the round bottom of coffee-cup, add
one egg, one cup of sugar, the juice and
pulp, and part of the grated peel of a lem
on: mix thoroughly. Make crust exact
ly like pie crust, roll it and cut little
circles the size of a small saucer; upon this
drop a spoonful of the mixture, wet the
crust with water, then fold it up and press
the edges together; make it look like little
turnover only it must not have even a
tiny outlet for the juice; use little flour
on your fingers, if need be, to keep the
edges together. Put them when all folded
into dripping pan or baking plate, close
ly side by side, then rub them over evenly
with milk in which little sugar is dissol-
we'd; to large tablespoonful of milk add a
teaspoonful of sugar Bake light brown.
These are delicious; serve one TO person
on small pie or salad plate. These little
pies are an Americanzed form of the regu-
lar London Bambury, which are less d.
gestible and less appetizing.
We may of course change our minds in